Date: Sun, 16 Jan 94 18:54:43 -0500
From: Ron Buckmire
Subject: No. 4 (September 1993)
A I D S B O O K R E V I E W J O U R N A L
University of Illinois at Chicago
H. Robert Malinowsky
Editor
Number 4 ISSN 1068-4174 September, 1993
An electronic journal reviewing books, videos, journal titles, and
other materials covering AIDS, safer sex, and sexually transmitted
diseases, published irregularly by the University of Illinois at
Chicago Library. Editorial offices PO Box 8198 M/C 234, Chicago, IL
60680. AIDS Book Review Journal is free of charge and is available
only in electronic form. Opinions expressed in the reviews are those
of the editor or reviewers. The Editor welcomes comments at
AIDSBKRV@UICVM. To subscribe over INTERNET: Tell Listserv@UICVM
sub AIDSBKRV your first and last name or send note to Listserv@UICVM
or Listserv@UICVM.UIC.EDU with note sub AIDSBKRV your first and last
name. AIDSBKRV files are available through a LISTSERV. To find what
is available, send note to: LISTSERV@UICVM or
LISTSERV@UICVM.UIC.EDU. Leave subject blank; key into body of note:
send AIDSBKRV FILELIST. This FILELIST contains a list of AIDSBKRV
files with their filenames and filetypes listed as AIDSBKn EJ where
the n is the issue number. To retrieve a particular file, send note
to the LISTSERV saying send AIDSBKn EJ, substituting the issue number
for the n. All materials in the journal are subject to copyright by
the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois and may be
reprinted or redistributed for the noncommercial purpose of
scientific or education advancement granted by Sections 107 and 108
of the Copyright Revision Act of 1976. For other reprinting or
redistribution or translations, address requests to H. Robert
Malinowsky, University of Illinois at Chicago Library, PO Box 8198,
Chicago, IL 60680.
****************************************************************************
It is the hope that this journal will be able to alert individuals
about new as well as noteworthy older publications, videos, journal
titles, and other print and non-print materials pertaining to AIDS,
safer sex, and STDs. AIDS is a devastating disease that is
infiltrating all levels of society. No one can be considered totally
exempt. Information specialists need to be alerted to those
materials that can educate everyone from the school child who needs a
picture book about AIDS to the layperson who needs general
information on the disease or a novel with an AIDS theme to the
researcher looking for a synopsis of research to those who are HIV+
needing comfort and support through the writings of those who have
AIDS or are HIV+.
The Editor welcomes comments that can be sent to him at
AIDSBKRV@UICVM. If any reader also is a publisher of any
AIDS-related material and would like it considered for review in this
journal, please send items to H. Robert Malinowsky, AIDS Book Review
Journal, 1250 W. Grace 1st Fl, Chicago, IL 60613, so that the
material can be considered.
======================================================================
Reviewed in this issue:
33. AIDS: 1,000 Full-Text Statistical Abstracts from the "A Matter
of Fact Database," 1984-1992.
34. Medical Alert, a bi-monthly publication of NAPWA.
35. Senseless Casualties: The AIDS Crisis in Asia, by Mark A.
Bonacci.
36. AIDS in the Industrialized Democracies: Passions, Politics, and
Policies, edited by David L. Kirp and Ronald Bayer.
37. Writing AIDS: Gay Literature, Language, and Analysis, edited by
Timothy F. Murphy and Suzanne Poirier.
38. Antibody Politic: AIDS and Society, by Tamsin Wilton.
39. Fighting for Our Lives, video by Center for Women's Policy
Studies.
40. How to Find Information About AIDS, 2nd ed., edited by Jeffrey
T. Huber.
Pre-1992 books briefly mentioned:
41. AIDS and Vision Loss, by Edwin Kiester, Jr.
42. Perspectives on AIDS: Ethical and Social Issues, edited by
Christine Overall, William P. Zion.
43. AIDS and Ethics, edited by Frederic G. Reamer.
44. Preventing AIDS in Drug Users and Their Sexual Partners, by
James L. Sorensen, Laurie A. Wermuth, David R. Gibson, Kyung-Hee
Choi, Joseph R. Guydish, Steven L. Batki.
45. Geography of AIDS: Origins and Course of an Epidemic, by Gary
W. Shannon, Gerald F. Pyle, Rashid L. Bashshur.
46. Understanding and Preventing AIDS: A Book for Everyone, by
Chris Jennings.
======================================================================
33. AIDS: 1,000 Full-Text Statistical Abstracts from the "A Matter
of Fact Database," 1984-1992. 1993. Pierian Press, PO Box 1808, Ann
Arbor, MI 48106. 106p. (Statistical Perspectives Series, no. 1)
ISBN 0-87650-329-6. $15.00. (Descriptors: Abstracts, HIV, Kaposi's
Sarcoma)
This publication includes some 1,082 abstracts taken from the A
Matter of Fact database covering 1984 through 1992. It used AIDS,
HIV, and Kaposi's Sarcoma as the keywords in retrieving the
documents. It covers those documents that are easily found and those
that are hard to locate including "occasional and special reports
from groups such as fourth world and cultural survival organizations;
focused newsletters and journals from environmental, social action,
and other special interest groups; and related sources from selected
research laboratories and academic institutions." Approximately 25%
of the abstracts come from congressional hearings and 15 % from the
Congressional Record. "The remaining abstracts reflect the editorial
content of sources designed to inform and influence the general
public and/or special interest groups, who, in turn, elect public
policy makers to support their values and objectives."
The abstracts do not present raw numbers but rather data selected and
used by writers and speakers to support their statements. They do
contain some selective statistical substance with careful and full
citations to the original sources. These abstracts permit one to
identify similarities and contradictions in evidence, data, and
arguments; compare forecasts; develop a big picture perspective;
compare the impact of one issue to the impact of another; and trace
an issue over a period of time.
This is an extremely unique collection of abstracts pertaining to
AIDS. For someone searching for statistics, this would be a good
place to begin. The abstracts are well written, presenting only that
material which is statistical in nature. The citations are very
complete, including SuDoc numbers for those government documents that
are cited as-well-as ISSN and ISBN numbers. This is a highly
recommended document for any AIDS collection. The full A Matter of
Fact database is available in four formats: print--annual volumes;
online--through OCLC's EPIC and FirstSearch systems; CD-ROM--from
SilverPlatter; and tape-load for licensing. (H. Robert Malinowsky)
34. Medical Alert. v.1- , Jan/Feb, no. 1, 1993. NAPWA, 1413 K
St, NW, Washington DC 20005. Bi-monthly. Free. (Descriptors:
NAPWA, Alternative Medicines)
This publication is produced by the National Association of People
With (NAPWA) Aids and sponsored by the T2 Medical, Inc. It is
bi-monthly and free for the asking. It publishes information about
new treatments and drugs as-well-as trials that are ongoing in the
medical community. It is intended as an educational document and
does not constitute an endorsement. "T1 Medical is a leading
provider of alternate site treatment services in the United States."
It provides its services on an outpatient basis. The May/June, 1993,
issue provided articles as follows: "GP160, Politics and You," "New
AZT Study Viewed with Caution, Concern," "Cell Growth Technology Puts
CD8 Cells to Work," "Standardization in CD4 Lymphocyte Count:
Toward Better Patient Management for HIV Disease," and "Anemia in
People with HIV/AIDS." The publication is only 6 pages in length but
the information is very useful and informative. Since it is dealing
in some instances with actual medication, a physician should be
consulted before changing current medication in order to understand
any side affects. (H. Robert Malinowsky)
35. Senseless Casualties: The AIDS Crisis in Asia, by Mark A.
Bonacci. 1992. Asia Resource Center, PO Box 15275, Washington, DC
20003. 120p., illus., bibliog. $12.50. (Descriptors: Asia,
Philippines, Thailand, India, Malaysia, Vietnam, Education)
The Asia Resource Center (ARC) was founded some 20 years ago to
provide educational resources on the peoples and cultures of Asia.
It has exposed critical issues that transcend national boundaries
including human rights abuses, nuclear disarmament, justice for the
poor, rights of women and minorities, and the impact of development
aid. It is recognized as a reliable source of information. "China,
the Philippines, Thailand, India, Malaysia and Vietnam have a
combined population of well over 2.3 billion people, thus
representing approximately one-half of the total population of the
world. HIV infection in Asia is presently reaching epidemic
proportions but for various reasons, the governments and health
officials of these countries have, for several years, been minimizing
the statistics and diverting attention away from this crisis." "This
book will examine the religious, cultural, social and economic
reasons for the official suppression of the alarming data on HIV
infection in these countries." The first chapter presents an
overview of the problem in Asia while the second chapter presents
compelling arguments that public education and counseling are the
only hope to battle AIDS. The third chapter discusses the religious
and cultural barriers to some of the educational attempts including
the religious prohibition against contraceptives and the cultural
barriers in talking about safer sex techniques. Chapter four covers
the spread of AIDS in the urban centers of Bangkok and Chiang Mai,
pointing out that the next areas could be Manila, Kuala Lumpur,
Bombay, and Calcutta. Chapter five covers the effects of the AIDS
epidemic on the economic well-being of these countries in trying to
care for these people. Chapter six shows how the U.S. has not
discussed the AIDS problem in and around the military bases of the
Philippines. The last chapter is one that would be best read by
anyone who works within the AIDS crisis. It "examines the phenomenon
of AIDS fatigue which causes policy-makers and the general public to
lose interest in the AIDS epidemic."
Dr. Bonacci has done a very good job in presenting the facts about
AIDS in Asia and should rightfully alarm the leaders that this crisis
needs to be reckoned with now and not later. There are no real
solutions but the facts are presented with many doors left open to
create guidelines for dealing with this problem. Religion is a
barrier as it is in all countries, when you talk about
contraceptives, safer sex, gay sex, and sex in general. How we get
through this barrier is a critical problem for all of those working
in the AIDS field. When this is placed on top of cultural barriers
such as there are in Asia, the problem is almost unsolvable. This
book makes one very aware of how governments can suppress information
in order to not alarm their populations. It is unfortunate that such
tactics are used, especially when lives could be saved if they were
upfront with everyone. This is an excellent book and one of the
first that speaks about the Asian problem in frank terms. It is
recommended for all libraries and especially for those libraries that
serve the Asian populations not only in the United States but
oversees. (H. Robert Malinowsky)
36. AIDS in the Industrialized Democracies: Passions, Politics, and
Policies, edited by David L. Kirp, Ronald Bayer. 1992. Rutgers
University Press, 109 Church St., New Brunswick, NJ 08901. 393p.,
bibliog., index. ISBN 0-8135-1821-0, 0-8135-1822-9pbk. $45.00,
$16.00pbk. (Descriptors: Government Policy, North America, Europe,
Japan, Australia) (Contributors to this volume: Erik Albaek, Aarhus
Univ.; John Ballard, Australian National Univ.; Ronald Bayer,
Columbia Univ. School of Public Health; Eric A. Feldman, Univ. of
Tokyo Institute of Social Science; Guenter Frankenberg,
Fachhochschule in Frankfurt am Main; Benny Henriksson, Swedish
Institute for Social Policy; David L. Kirp, Univ. of California at
Berkeley; Evert A. Lindquist, Univ. of Toronto; Jonathan M. Mann,
Harvard School of Public Health; Jesus M. de Miguel, Univ. of
Barcelona; David M. Rayside, Univ. of Toronto; Monika Steffen,
National Center of Scientific Research in Grenoble; John Street,
Univ. of East Anglia; Albert Weale, Univ. of East Anglia; Jan K. van
Wijngaarden, Ministry of Welfare, Health, and Cultural Affairs of the
Netherlands; Shohei Yonemoto, Mitsubishi Kasei Institute of Life
Science; Hasse Ytterberg, Judge in the district court of Boras)
"How the industrialized countries reacted to the epidemic, how it was
conceptualized, and how different societal elements--governmental and
nongovernmental--responded, are of central importance both for
understanding the future directions of AIDS policy and for learning
lessons of enormous practical value for the next pandemic." The
first chapter, "An Epidemic in Political and Policy Perspective,"
lays the foundation for this interesting book that shows how the
governments of the United States, Canada, Germany, Australia, Spain,
Britain, France, The Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, and Japan have
responded to the AIDS crisis, each dependent on their political
culture. Each chapter covers a particular country, describing its
policies and in doing so "lays bare the social, cultural, and
political character of entire societies." Together, the chapters
illustrate that there are networks of international and transnational
agencies that are creating a need for sharing, communication, and
solidarity. It also shows that there can be tension between the
countries. The final line, however, is that "a global epidemic of
infectious disease helps us not only to explore health and science,
but also to appreciate further the forces that are shaping the modern
world. The community, national, and international response to the
AIDS pandemic mirrors and helps to shape the global future."
The titles of the chapters for each of the countries indicates the
political thought of that country and the problems that it has
created. The chapter on the United States, "At the Center of the
Storm," presents such issues as testing, safer sex campaigns,
education, contact tracing, and discrimination. These politically
explosive topics have shaped the U.S. policies and have also provided
much fuel for the activists. Each of the other countries is
described as follows: Canada--"Community Activism, Federalism, and
the New Politics of Disease," Germany--"The Uneasy Triumph of
Pragmatism," Australia--"Participation and Innovation in a Federal
System," Spain--"An Epidemic of Denial," Britain--"Policy-Making in a
Hermetically Sealed System," France--"Social Solidarity and
Scientific Expertise," The Netherlands--"AIDS in a Consensual
Society," Denmark--"AIDS and the Political Pink Triangle,"
Sweden--"The Power of the Moral(istic) Left," and Japan--"AIDS as a
Non-issue." These are fascinating chapters to read, providing the
reader with new insights on each of the governments, some of which is
both frightening and unbelievable.
The last chapter, "The Second Decade of AIDS: The End of
Exceptionalism?," sums up all that was presented. It is not
surprising that much of what is done worldwide was first done in the
United States. On the other hand, the U.S. showed other countries
what not to do. For one, the U.S. does not guarantee universal
access to health care and the welfare system in the U.S. leaves many
unhelped. The key to AIDS policy can be summed up with five
frameworks: "create a regime of legal rights; rely on professional
expertise; utilize bureaucratic norms of consistency and internal
accountability; let the political system settle matters, producing
either ideological clashes or the give-and-take of interested
parties; or leave matters to the market, subject to varying degrees
of regulation."
This is a unique book that should be read by all political leaders.
It lays the foundation for policy and points out the many
shortcomings that are present in the various industrialized
countries, including the United States. It is well-written and easy
to read with a great deal of statistics. The contributors have done
an excellent job of presenting the facts in a manner that one can
easily compare between countries on to how policies differ. This is
a recommended book for those doing research on international policies
and as such should be in all large public libraries and all academic
libraries. (H. Robert Malinowsky)
37. Writing AIDS: Gay Literature, Language, and Analysis, edited by
Timothy F. Murphy, Suzanne Poirier. 1993. Columbia University
Press, 562 W 113th St, New York, NY 10025. 352p., bibliog., index.
(Between Men--Between Women: Lesbian and Gay Studies). ISBN
0-231-07864-1. $29.50. (Descriptors: American Gays' Writings, AIDS
in Literature, Homosexuality and Literature; Gays Writing)
(Contributors to this volume: Emily Apter, Univ. of California,
Davis; Peter M. Bowen, Rutgers Univ.; Franklin Brooks, Vanderbilt
Univ.; Joseph Cady, Univ. of Rochester Medical School; John Clum,
Duke Univ.; Richard Dellamora, Trent Univ., Petersborough, Ontario;
Lee Edelman, Tufts Univ.; Sander L. Gilman, Cornell Univ.; Phillip B.
Harper, Harvard Univ.; James W. Jones, Central Michigan Univ.; James
Miller, Univ. of Western Ontario; Timothy F. Murphy, Univ. of
Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago; Suzanne Poirier, Univ. of
Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago; Michael S. Sherry,
Northwestern Univ.; Paula A. Treichler, Univ. of Illinois College of
Medicine at Urbana)
According to John M. Clum, AIDS "is the linkings of sex=disease,
homosexuality=disease, promiscuity=disease, and, finally,
homosexuality=promiscuity=disease, that enchain people with AIDS and,
by association, all gay men." "Writing AIDS is an examination of how
those equations are being rejected or rewritten in a healing way in
today's writing about the epidemic in the literary presses, obituary
columns, and even freshman compositions." The editors have brought
together a group of contributors who have written essays that each
identify a different look at AIDS in the literature. They have done
a marvelous job at creating a book that once picked up to read, is
hard to put down until each essay has been read through, maybe more
than once. It should be pointed out, that "Whatever their positions,
however, these writers maintain that the strength of the literature
they champion lies in its ability to (re)affirm gay existence,
self-respect, and love, an assertion that is a central theme of the
essays."
These essays cover a wide range of content from the language that is
used to describe AIDS to teaching AIDS 101 where students write about
their knowledge of AIDS and how it affects them to how AIDS is
depicted in the media to pointing out how AIDS is not mentioned in
recent American gay erotic fiction. These essays are well written
and scholarly, providing the reader much to contemplate and include
bibliographies for additional reading. The editors point out that
many novelists, journalists, and screenwriters still see the writing
about AIDS as an option. "In a very real sense, all writing today is
AIDS writing in that it must consciously choose how to respond to the
epidemic, whether by direct involvement or evasion. Moreover, this
involvement by an increasing diversity of writers raises the
possibility of a unity of effort and concern that is encouraged or
foreseen by several of the contributors to this collection." It is
aptly pointed out that "Gay men, either as authors or subjects,
dominate the written word in the literature of the epidemic." That,
however, does not mean that others have not written about AIDS, as
these essays so carefully show.
For the researcher there is an "Annotated Bibliography of AIDS
Literature, 1982-91" that is broken down into fiction, poetry, drama,
biography and autobiography, and essays, criticism, and analysis.
This is a highly recommended book for all level of readers from high
school student to the researcher. It is a book that will make you
think as you read each essay. (H. Robert Malinowsky)
38. Antibody Politic: AIDS and Society, by Tamsin Wilton. 1992.
New Clarion Press/Paul & Co. Publishers Consortium, PO Box 442,
Concord, MA 01742. 164p., illus., index. (Issues in Social Policy).
ISBN 1-873797-05-2, 1-873797-04-4pbk. $44.50, $16.95pbk.
(Descriptors: Social Issues, Medical Impact, Media, AIDS and Racism)
"The first aim of this book is to provide an accessible introduction
to the subject for the non-specialist reader." To this end, the
author has done a good job of presenting "Basic medical information,
an overview of some of the major social issues and a potted history
of the epidemic...along with a simple guide to safer sex and drug
use." Although slanted towards what has happened in the United
Kingdom, this book has given much basic information for all who read
it. The title to the first chapter, "No longer someone else's
problem: the social and medical impact of AIDS" says much. It is in
this chapter that some historical perspective is presented. Wilton
ends the chapter with the statement that there are three global AIDS
epidemics: "The first was the unsuspected, silent spread of HIV from
the 1950s to 1981. The second is the highly visible epidemic of AIDS
which we are now witnessing. The third is what might be termed the
social epidemic, the various reactions of fear, hatred, bigotry,
denial and repression with which the peoples of the world have
responded."
In chapter two, "Fire and brimstone: press coverage of AIDS and its
consequences" one realizes how many social problems AIDS has created.
Some of these problems have always been there, but now AIDS can be
blamed for their perpetuation. Such things as the gay plague years,
overt and covert homophobia, guilt by differentiation, blame, sex and
drugs, and death by misinformation are discussed. Such statements
are brought to the readers attention that have been around--"because
they believed that it only affected gay men," "gays are not worth
worrying about," and "Wrath of God Syndrome." The third chapter
discusses AIDS and women while the fourth covers AIDS and racism.
AIDS in women is a growing concern both heterosexually, and in
lesbians. AIDS in Africa is something that has to be reckoned with
by the world health agencies. Here is where racism is very evident.
For example, in South Africa, "Whites have a doctor-patient ratio of
1:330, while for Blacks the ration is 1:1,200." AIDS is definitely a
"disease of poverty" in Africa.
The fifth chapter presents what has been done to work with the
epidemic through experience and expertise. Community action,
volunteering, and cooperation have become key to fighting this
epidemic both in Britain and throughout the world. There are
frightening consequences if nothing is done and governments are well
aware of this, even if they do not admit it. Finally, it is pointed
out that there is much to be ashamed and angry of. "Medical interest
was slow to get started, unwilling to devote energy to something
which appeared to affect only gay men and to offer no kudos or
financial reward. The medical industry now, policed though it
undoubtedly is by AIDS activists, continues to exploit the tragedy of
AIDS for profit, while the political and religious establishments of
almost every nation in the world continue to exploit AIDS for their
own political and ideological ends." This is a recommended book for
all who are interested in the social implications of the AIDS
epidemic and deserves a place in all academic and medical libraries.
(H. Robert Malinowsky)
39. Fighting for Our Lives, by Center for Women's Policy Studies.
1992 (c1990). Distributed by Women Make Movies, 225 Lafayette St.,
#207, New York, NY 10012. Color video, time, 29:00. $175.00.
(Descriptors: Women, Latinos, Asian-Pacific, Native Americans,
Education)
This beautiful video is not about AIDS in particular but about how to
educate women about AIDS. It is a collection of interviews,
snapshots of organizations, and straight talk from various narrators.
The "how we do something good" approach has been put into 29 minutes
of beautiful photography, pleasant background music, and selective
coverage that emphasizes women of color. It covers the Asian-Pacific
communities, Native Americans, Latinos, and African-American women in
California and Washington, DC. Since women are the main caregivers
in any health-related situation, they are depicted in that role in
this video. With the Asian-Pacific women one has to go to the
workplace to educate them; with Native Americans you need to speak in
their languages; with Latinos you are faced with rejection by the
family when someone has AIDS; and with the African-Americans you need
to speak in straight forward terms.
Excellent examples are shown through the work of such groups as the
Native American Women's Health Resource Center, DC Women's Council on
AIDS, and National Resource Center on Women. This is a very
worthwhile video that should be shown at all women's health centers
where AIDS is a concern. It is non-threatening with a message that
cannot be missed, stressing that education and working together is
one of the best ways to fight AIDS. Schools that have progressed to
having more than just a passing mention about AIDS should have this
video and show it on a regular basis to all women students. Highly
recommended. (H. Robert Malinowsky)
40. How to Find Information About AIDS, 2nd ed., edited by Jeffrey
T. Huber. 1992. Harrington Park Press/The Haworth Press, 10 Alice
St., Binghamton, NY 13904-1580. 290p., index. 290p., index.
(Haworth Medical Information Sources). ISBN 1-56024-140-3,
0-918393-99-Xpbk. $29.95, $14.95pbk. (Descriptors: Information
Services, Directories, Bibliography)
This handbook/directory is one of the better guides on locating
information pertaining to AIDS. It is very well organized with each
chapter covering a particular source of information: Organizational
Resources; Health Department; Research Institutions, Grant Funding
Sources, Federal Agencies, and Education and Training Centers;
Hotlines; Electronic Sources of Information; Print Sources of
Information; and Audiovisual Producers/Distributors. Each of these
chapters contains names, addresses, telephone numbers, annotations
when necessary, and other pertinent information that helps the user
locate a source for AIDS services. Especially useful is the chapter
covering the electronic sources. Here each is described and provides
producer, availability, coverage, update frequency, print counterpart
and other data. There is a fairly comprehensive bibliography of
books, journals, newsletters, other print sources that would serve as
a core collection for any library needing AIDS materials.
As with any book that has directory information, that part of the
book is the most useful immediately following publication. So many
agencies and task forces change names, disband, or just disappear
that this information needs to be updated on a yearly basis.
However, the major agencies continue and their addresses and
telephone numbers will be just as useful now as later. The Hotlines
are very useful. This is an excellent reference work providing a
multitude of sources for persons doing AIDS research. It is also a
useful book in any hospital setting, clinic, or agency where
telephone numbers are needed or addresses. Dr. Huber has done an
excellent job in putting together this book. It is similar to this
reviewer's AIDS Information Sourcebook, but goes beyond just the
directory and bibliography aspect. Huber's book is recommended for
all libraries and agencies as well as any hospital-related facility.
(H. Robert Malinowsky)
41. AIDS and Vision Loss, by Edwin Kiester, Jr. 1990. American
Foundation for the Blind, 15 W 16th St., New York, NY 10011. 115p.,
illus., bibliog., index. ISBN 0-89128-167-3. $29.95. (Descriptors:
Visually Handicapped Services, Patient Rehabilitation, Complications
and Sequelae, Blindness)
"This handbook is a first attempt to synthesize what is known about
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and vision loss and
appropriate rehabilitation methods for visually impaired PWAs." It
contains chapters discussing the disease profile, who gets AIDS, how
AIDS is treated, and the emotional impact of AIDS. These are
straightforward discussions that are well written. The rest of the
book discusses services that can be provided for the visually
handicapped AIDS patients. This is a very good resource book that
would do well to be continually updated with any new developments in
treating AIDS and the visually handicapped. (H. Robert Malinowsky)
42. Perspectives on AIDS: Ethical and Social Issues, edited by
Christine Overall, William P. Zion. 1991. Oxford University Press,
200 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016. 179p., bibliog., index. ISBN
0-19-540749-0. $24.95. (Descriptors: Social Aspects, Moral and
Ethical Aspects) (Contributors to this volume: H.A. Bassford, York
Univ.; Jerome E. Bickenbach, Queen's Univ. in Kingston; John Dixon,
Capilano College; Benjamin Freedman, McGill Univ.; Patricia
Illingworth, McGill Univ.; B. Lee, AIDS Action Now in Toronto; James
Miller, Univ. of Western Ontario in London; Christine Overall,
Queen's Univ. in Kingston; Arthur Schafer, Univ. of Manitoba; Michael
Yeo, Westminster Institute for Ethics and Human Values; William P.
Zion, Queen's Univ. in Kingston)
This well-written book "is a collection of essays by Canadian
academics and activists who explore some difficult questions relating
to AIDS and HIV infection in North America, particularly within the
context of Canadian culture and the Canadian health-care system."
The first 5 essays are part of the section, "Culture and Context."
The titles of the essays speak for themselves: "AIDS: The Social
Dimension," "AIDS and Disability," "AIDS and Women: The
(Hetero)sexual Politics of HIV Infection," "AIDS, Ethics and
Religion," and "Acquired Immanent Divinity Syndrome." These essays
talk about many of the myths that are associated with AIDS such as it
being just a gay disease and the idea that everyone who has AIDS is a
victim. The other section, "Ethical and Social Issues," is more
clinical in its approach but very appropriate in how it is presented.
These essays are "Sexual Ethics and AIDS: A Liberal View,"
"Health-Care Workers' Occupational Exposure to HIV: Obligations and
Entitlements," "HIV Test and Confidentiality," "Catastrophic Rights:
Vital Public Interests and Civil Liberties in Conflict," "Warning:
AIDS Health Promotion Programs May Be Hazardous to Your Autonomy,"
and "Living with AIDS: Towards Effective and Compassionate Health
Care Policy." All in all this is an excellent book for anyone to
read.
43. AIDS and Ethics, edited by Frederic G. Reamer. 1991. Columbia
University Press, 562 W. 113th St., New York, NY 10025. 317p.,
bibliog., index. ISBN 0-231-07358-5. $29.50. (Descriptors: Moral
and Ethical Aspects, Social Aspects) (Contributors to this volume:
Ronald Bayer, Columbia Univ.; Nora Kizer Bell, Univ. of South
Carolina; Courtney S. Campbell, Oregon State Univ.; James F.
Childress, Univ. of Virginia; Donald H.J. Hermann, DePaul Univ
College of Law; Carol Levine, Citizens Commission on AIDS; Robert J.
Levine, Yale Univ. School of Medicine; Gerald M. Oppenheimer, City
Univ. of New York; Robert A. Padgug, Empire Blue Cross and Blue
Shield; Frederic G. Reamer, Rhode Island College; Ferdinand Schoeman,
Univ. of South Carolina; Abigail Zuger, Albert Einstein College of
Medicine)
The ethical aspects of AIDS have been issues from the beginning of
the first case. There is no area of the epidemic that has not
escaped someone labelling it an ethical issue. Probably no other
medical problem in man's life has there been so many questions
concerning the whys and wheres of AIDS. The very mention of AIDS
raises a political furor and results in name calling and finger
pointing. This book explores all of those ethical areas beginning
with public health and civil liberties, followed with mandatory HIV
screening and testing, human subjects for research, the impact on
health insurance, and the overwhelming problems involved with AIDS
education at all levels. Then there are the issues of ethics and
militant AIDS activism, AIDS and the physician-patient relationship,
the obligations of health-care professionals, privacy, and the law.
"The AIDS crisis is important in and of itself because of the nature
of this public health pandemic. However, if ethical thinking is to
make a meaningful difference in the AIDS crisis--and in any
comparable crisis--it must help us balance our concern about abstract
reasons for right action with a concern about what moves people to
care about right action." This is a must-read book and one that
physicians and other caregivers should have close-by. (H. Robert
Malinowsky)
44. Preventing AIDS in Drug Users and Their Sexual Partners, by
James L. Sorensen, Laurie A. Wermuth, David R. Gibson, Kyung-Hee
Choi, Joseph R. Guydish, Steven L. Batki. 1991. Guilford Press, 72
Spring St., New York, NY 10012. 220p., bibliog., index. (Guilford
Substance Abuse Series) ISBN 0-89862-173-9. $25.00. (Descriptors:
Prevention, Intravenous Drug Abuse, Sex Behavior, Sex Counseling,
Substance Abuse) (Contributors to this volume all from the Univ. of
California, San Francisco: Steven L. Batki, Joseph A. Catania,
Kyung-Hee Choi, Rani Eversley, Patricia Franks, David R. Gibson, Eve
Golden, Joseph R. Guydish, Karen Hembry, Julie London, Jane
Lovelle-Drache, Eduardo S. Morales, John L. Peterson, Linda E. Rico,
Rebecca L. Robbins, James L. Sorensen, Laurie A. Wermuth)
Injection drug users are the second largest group of people to
encounter AIDS and is the most frequent source of heterosexual and
mother-infant transmission of HIV. This book is basically an account
of the excellent research program being conducted by the Substance
Abuse Services of the San Francisco General Hospital. It presents
many case studies and how-to aspects of dealing with AIDS in drug
users. The three sections are: "AIDS and Drug Use," which
discusses the AIDS-connection, prevention, needle sharing, unsafe
sex, and behavior change; "Preventive Interventions with Drug Users
and Their Sexual Partners," covering treatments and counseling; and
"Social Implications," consisting of adopting effective interventions
and policy implications. This is an excellent book for drug
treatment centers and should also be available in all counseling
centers that treat drug users. (H. Robert Malinowsky)
45. Geography of AIDS: Origins and Course of an Epidemic, by Gary
W. Shannon, Gerald F. Pyle, Rashid L. Bashshur. 1991. Guilford
Press, 72 Spring St., New York, NY 10012. 192p., illus., bibliog.,
index. ISBN 0-89862-445-2. $30.00. (Descriptors: Epidemiology,
Medical Geography)
This is an overview of how AIDS has progressed throughout the world.
It does not treat each topic in detail but rather gives the reader a
sense of urgency to seek out other material that can cover specific
topics in more detail. After discussing AIDS in general terms in the
first two chapters, it covers Africa, Europe, and the United States.
The last chapter attempts to provide a mode for the geography of
AIDS. This is a good general book that should be in all AIDS
collections. Although not detailed, it gives enough information for
the general reader and provides a stepping stone for those wanting to
do further research. (H. Robert Malinowsky)
46. Understanding and Preventing AIDS: A Book for Everyone, 2nd
edition, by Chris Jennings. 1988. Health Alert Press, PO Box 2060,
Cambridge, MA 02238-2060. 230p., illus., bibliog., index. ISBN
0-936571-01-2. $24.95. (Descriptors: Prevention, Education,
Epidemiology)
Even though AIDS has been the topic of numerous shows, magazines,
books, and lectures, there are countless millions of people who are
still ignorant about AIDS facts. Some of this is related to the
homophobic mentality of some of these individuals, some is because
religious leaders are reluctant to consider it for their
congregations, and some of it is the political aspects connected with
AIDS education. "This book was designed to provide accurate,
non-sensationalistic, easy-to-understand information for both medical
professionals and the laypeople alike. Beyond providing facts, this
book creates a framework which outlines the biological nature of
AIDS, the scientific and social aspects of the AIDS epidemic, and how
AIDS relates to them as individuals." It is a book that is intended
to be read from cover to cover. The information pertains to AIDS in
the United States and it is intended for educational use only, not as
medical advice. Topics covered include HIV genes, the name game,
lentiviruses, monkey viruses, lymphatic system, diseases common to
AIDS, physical disorders common to AIDS, relative risks of sexual
activities, HIV screening, experimental drugs, support groups, condom
use, U.S. military screening, ethnic breakdown, and hygiene. This is
not an in-depth book but rather a summary of information about the
virus and what is and can be done to treat patients. A good general
book. (H. Robert Malinowsky)